The Ruling on Joking in Da'wah

Question:
The questioner asks: Is joking and making people laugh a means of da'wah (calling others to Islam) in order to win their hearts to the religion? And what are the correct means? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
Da'wah is not a matter of praise, making people laugh, or joking. Da'wah is done through the Book and the Sunnah and through admonition, not through joking, making people laugh, or anything similar. This is not gentleness. We might say this is gentleness, but gentleness does not extend to the point of joking. This diminishes the status of the da'i (caller to Allah). When people see him laughing and joking like that, he becomes less in their eyes, and he becomes like a comedian, not a da'i to Allah. He becomes like an actor. This diminishes the status of da'wah and the status of the da'i. So the da'i calls to Allah in a serious manner.
And in the manner of the Book and the Sunnah. It is not established in the Book and the Sunnah that joking, mockery, and such things are part of da'wah to Allah the Exalted and Majestic. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, says to His Prophet: By wisdom, meaning by knowledge and placing things in their proper places. You address the ignorant person with what he understands, you address the knowledgeable person with what he understands, and you address the one in authority with what is fitting for him. Each person is addressed with what is fitting for him. This is part of wisdom. Also, wisdom is knowledge, so do not call people while you are ignorant. And good admonition, and arguing in the best way. Joking is not part of this, and joking is not reported from them as a means of da'wah. This diminishes the status of da'wah, diminishes the status of the da'i, and makes him cheap in the eyes of people because he is undignified and degrading himself. So we do not introduce into da'wah things that are not part of its methodology. Yes.